PRIZES to win! PROMOTIONS
Francene Mary Diane Hill grew up surrounded by the energy and purpose of the Tiny Tot Nursery School, founded by her mother, Kermit Hill, in 1951. Over the decades, Francene worked in every role at Tiny Tot-from teacher's assistant to bus driver-before serving as Board Member and Assistant Director. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Smith College and an M.S. in Human and Family Studies from Penn State University. Her passion for storytelling has taken her to open mics, book readings, and book festivals, including The Moth StorySLAM in Washington, DC. She has been featured in Sisters of AARP Magazine, the St. Louis Public Library's Digital Collection, and on multiple stages sharing her mother's inspiring legacy. Tiny Tots in Tiaras and Tuxedos is her tribute to Kermit's groundbreaking achievements and enduring community impact.
Your descriptions of objects enhance the narrative. I am able to see the setting, as well as the characters, and can intuit the feelings among the characters. - Linda Moore, Reaching for Resilience Tiny Tots in Tiaras and Tuxedos offers a captivating portrait of Kermit B. Hill, an African American pioneer whose post-World War II journey blends public service, resilience, and entrepreneurial determination. Through her daughter, her path from probation officer to Pentagon insider to celebrated nursery-school founder is told with warmth and inspiring clarity. -- W.T.Door I find your ways of expression and narration exceedingly personal, warm and even intimate. Still you are excellent with the little, finer things in life that take place between people. - William Y.Your story Tiny Tots in Tiaras and Tuxedos captured me from the very beginning. What stood out most was how you turned everyday family life into something so vivid and memorable. I loved the detail of Kermit juggling her baby, husband, and housework while still dreaming about a piano; it showed both her determination and her humanity. - Amy Chan Zhou, author of Flowing with the Pearl River
